Cover for toilet flush tank



Ap 9, 1957 s. s. DoLNlcK covER FoR TOILET FLUSH TANK Filed Oct. 4, u1956IN V EN TOR.

COVER FR TOHIET FLUSH TANK Seymour S. Dolnick, Milwaukee, Wis., assignorto Rhea Manufacturing Company, a corporation ot' Wisconsin ApplicationOctober 4, 1956, Serial No. 613,848

2 Claims. (Cl. 1511-52) This invention relates to jackets or covers fortoilet ush tanks or the like.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a new and improvedjacket or cover of the character described.

Most indoor toilets constructed according to modern plumbing standardsare provided with a ilush tank adapted to contain a supply of water bywhich the toilet may be liushed. As is well known, such flush tanks areusually provided with a water supply or inlet pipe projecting from thebottom of the tank through which fresh water is supplied to the tank,and are also provided with a discharge pipe projecting from the bottomof the tank through which the water is conducted to the toilet bowladjacent thereto. Water ilowing to the flush tank through the supplypipe from underground lines or supplies is usually quite cool, or atleast, substantially below the surrounding bathroom temperature with theresult that the temperature of exposed walls of the tank 4tend toapproach that of the incoming water. This gives rise to a very annoyingproblem, unless corrective measures are taken, in that moisture in theroom air condenses on the cold, exposed wall surfaces of the ilush tankand drips onto the floor therebeneath, thereby creating a conditionuusightly in appearance and injurious to some oor constructions.

A number of measures have been proposed either to prevent or remedythese undesirable conditions, the most etcient and desirable of whichappears to be the provision of a jacket or cover for the exposed wallsof the ilush tank which may serve both a decorative and a utilitarianpurpose. Such jackets may be comprised of a porous water absorbentmaterial such as turkish towelling or the like of a decorative design.Jackets of this nature function to absorb whatever condensate is formedduring periods in which the toilet is in use, as the waking hours, andto permit free evaporation of condensate, particularly during periods ofnon-use such as the sleeping hours. A jacket of this type is disclosedin the Armstrong Patent No. 2,652,874.

Jackets of the character described have had certain disadvantages,however. For example, toilets of the vtype having Wall mounted ush tanksusually include a relatively small diameter discharge pipe projectingfrom the bottom of the tank and leading to the adjacent toilet bowl,while toilets of the type having free standing flush tanks include arelatively large diameter discharge pipe leading from the bottom of thetank to the toilet bowl or, at least the discharge pipe is surrounded bya relatively large diameter structure suiciently strong to support thetank from the bowl. Since jackets of the character describedsubstantially cover the exposed bottom Wall of the tiush tank, a jackethaving an opening of one size in the bottompanel is required toaccommodate the discharge pipe projecting from the bottom of a wallmounted tank and a jacket having an opening of a larger size is requiredto accommodate the relatively largeV discharge pipe projecting from thebottom of a free standing tank.

nited States Patent 'i 2,788,043 Patented Apr. 9, 1957 rice This hasrequired that the manufacturer must make and supply the jackets in atleast two different styles. Similarly, the seller must purchase andstock the jackets in two different styles. Also, housewives who usuallypurchase such jackets, almost never know when purchasing such items whattype of toilet they have, with the result that about half the time theypurchase the wrong style of jacket only to become dissatisfied.

With the above and other considerations in mind, it is a more specicobject of this invention to provide a new .and improved jacket of thecharacter described which is adapted for use with either a wall mountedilush tank or a free standing flush tank, thereby eliminating therequirement that the manufacturer make and supply jackets of twodiderent styles, eliminating the necessity that the seller acquire andmaintain inventories of two dierent styles, and eliminating thenecessity of a decision on the part of a purchasing housewifesubsequently dissatisfied.

Other objects and advantages will become readily apparent from thefollowing detailed description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Figure l illustrates a jacket embodying the principles of the presentinvention in use with a flush tank of the wall mounted type;

Figure 2 illustrates a jacket embodying the principles of the presentinvention in use with a flush tank of the free standing type;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary rear view of the free standing ilushtank illustrated in Figure 2 having a jacket of the present inventionmounted in place thereon;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the bottom ofthe tank and jacket illustrated in Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective view, looking downwardly into therear of a jacket embodying the principles of the present invention; and

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5, illustrating the jacket after ithas been modified in a manner rendering it suitable for use with a freestanding flush tank.

While an illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in thedrawings and will be described in detail herein, the invention issusceptible of embodiment in many diierent forms, and it should beunderstood that the present disclosure is to be considered as anexempliiication of the principles of the invention and is not intendedto limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated. The scope of theinvention will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring now to Figure l, I have illustrated a toilet having a ilushtank of the wall mounted type, including a bowl i@ constructed ofsuitable ceramic or metallic materials and supported on the floor il ofa bathroom or other enclosure. Toilets of this type include a watercloset or flush tank, generally designated l2, mounted on and supportedentirely by the vertically disposed wall 13. A water supply or inletpipe i4 projects from the bottom of the ilush tank i2 and is connectedwith a suitable source of fresh water for filling the ush tank l2. Adischarge pipe 15 of a relatively small diameter also projects from thebottom of the flush tank i2 and is suitably connected with the bowl l@to supply water from the tank l2 for ilushing the toilet. A handle lo isconventionally provided on the tlush tank l2 to facilitate liushing,yand the tank i2 usually is provided with a removable cover 17 whichpermits access to the interior of the tank.

Referring to Figure 2, l have illustrated a toilet having a ilush tankof the free standing type, including a bowl 20 which may be similar tothe bowl lo, suitably supported on the floor 2l. Toilets of this typeinclude a ilush tank 22 generally similar to the tank l2, mountedadjacent a vertically disposed wall 23 and provided with a Water 3supply or inlet pipe 24 projecting from the bottom of the tank. The tank22 is not mounted on the wall 23, but is supported by a discharge pipe25, or suitable structure of ceramic or metallic materials surroundingthe discharge pipe, projecting from the bottom of the ilush tank andsuitably connected with the bowl 20 and` of sufficient strength tosupport the tank 22 from the bowl 20. The rear wall of the flush tank 22may conveniently be disposed immediately `adjacent the wall 23, but thePrincipal support for the flush tank is derived from the discharge pipe25 or suitable structure surrounding the discharge pipe, so that ofnecessity the discharge pipe or the surrounding structure must be of arelatively large diameter as compared to the discharge pipe l in Figurel in order to provide sufficient strength to support the tank. The tank22 illustrated in Figure 2 may be provided with a handle 26 and a cover27 similar to the handle and cover provided with the tank in Figure l.

While the flush tanks illustrated in Figures l land 2 differ in certainrespects, namely, in the relative size of the respective discharge pipesand 25, they also are similar in many respects, namely, they areprovided with similar water supplyl or inlet pipes 14 and 24 which maybe similarly located, they are provided with similar handles 16 and 26similarly located, they are provided with similar covers 17 and 27, andthey both include exposed front, side, and bottom walls which aresubject to condensation which gives rise to the problems alluded toabove. ln the case of both ush tanks, the rear wall is mounted closelyadjacent the vertically disposed wall of an enclosure and is therebyinsulated to some extent so as to avoid condensation and, secondly, isnot exposed to admit of corrective measures.

Referring now particularly to Figures 5 and 6, according to the presentinvention, I have provided a cover or jacket 30 adapted for use withflush tanks of either the wall mounted type or the free standing type.The jacket illustrated is of one piece construction and includes a frontpanel 3l, side panels 32 and 33, and a bottom panel 34. The panels31--34 are desir-ably made of a porous water absorbent fabric such aschenille or turkish towelling and function to absorb condensation thatforms during periods when the toilet is in use, and functionsparticularly during periods when the toilet is not in use to permit freeevaporation of the condensate.

The front panel 31 is of a sufficient width to reach across the exposedfront wall of the flush tank and is of a sutlcient length or height toreach from the bottom of the tank at least to the normal level of waterin the tank. As illustrated, the front panel is of a sufficient lengthto extend entirely from the bottom to the top of the tank, and includesnear one upper corner an aperture or slit 35 adapted to accommodate ahandle on the tiush tank such as that illustrated at 16 or 26.

The side panels 32 and 33 are of a length or height similar to that ofthe front panel 31 and are of a Suthcient width to cover the exposedside walls of the ush tank. In order to aid in holding the jacket inplace on the ilush tank, it may include attaching or securing means suchas an elastic band 36 connected to the upper rear free corners of theside panels 32 and 33 and adapted to t over the upper edge of the rearwall of the ush tank.

The front and side panels ofthe jacket may conveniently consist of asingle piece of material of suitable size.

The bottom panel is of a width and length suicient to cover the majorportion of the exposed bottom wall of the tank and may be suitablyjoined at its side and front edges to the adjacent edges of the side andfront panels by means of sewed seams illustrated at 37 and 38.

As best seen in Figures 5 and 6, the bottom panel 34 of the jacket isprovided, adjacent the side panel 33 with an aperture 39 provided toaccommodate a water inlet pipe, such as those illustrated in 14 and 24,projecting from the bottom of a ush tank. The aperture 39 extendsrearwardly to the rear free edge of the bottom panel Gil 34 in order topermit installation of the jacket, and excess material is providedadjacent the mouth of the aperture in the form of overlapping flaps /ltland 41 which include cooperating connectable and disconnectablefastening means 42 to permit closure of the mouth of the aperture aboutthe inlet pipe to aid in holding the jacket in place on the flush tank.

The bottom panel 3d also includes a second aperture 45, centrallylocated lengthwise of the panel for accommodating a relatively smalldiameter discharge pipe such as that illustrated at 1S. rlhe aperture 45also extends rearwardly to the rear free edge of the bottom panel 34,and excess material is provided adjacent the mouth of the aperture inthe form of overlapping flaps 46 and 47 which also include cooperatingconnectable and disconnectable fastening means #i8 and 49 for closingthe mouth of the aperture about the discharge pipe to aid in maintainingthe jacket in place on the tank.

As explained hereinabove, considerable diiculty would be encountered infitting the jacket as illustrated in Figure 5 on a tank of the freestanding type, such as that illustrated in Figure 2, because theaperture is not of a suflicient size to accommodate enlarged dischargepipes or Ithe enlarged supporting structure surrounding discharge pipesprojecting from tanks of the free standing types. Accordingly, thebottom panel 34 is provided with an enlarged area 5i. surrounding therelatively small diameter aperture 45 which may be cut out of the bottompanel by means -such as scissors conventionally found in the household.The enlarged area 51 which may be cut out of the bottom panel is definedby a line of stitching 52 and by the seam 3S so that after the materialhas been cut out 'the stitching and the seam serve to prevent unravelingof the material at the edges of the enlarged aperture. A guide toindicate the line along which the material should be cut may be providedin the form of a strand of :thread sewed on the bottom panel asillustrated at S3. After the enlarged area of material S1 is removed thebottom panel then contains an enlarged aperture 54, illustrated best inFigure 6, of `suficient size to accommodate a relatively large dischargepipe such as that illustrated at 25 in Figure 2.

The fastening means 48, previously referred to, is located outside theenlarged area 51, and the fastening means 49 is located within the area51. Thus, regardless of whether the bottom panel of the jacket is fittedabout a relatively small discharge pipe or about a relatively largedischarge pipe the mouth of the aperture accommodating such pipe may besnugly closed to provide a secure t of the bottom panel.

l claim:

l. As an article of manufacture for use with a toilet flush tank ofeither the wall mounted type or the free standing type having exposedfront, side and bottom walls, a jacket comprising a rectangular frontpanel of a width to reach across the front of a Hush tank and of aheight to extend from the bottom of the tank to above the normal levelof water in the tank, similar rectangular side panels joined to theopposite side edges of said front panel and having a height equalthereto but being narrower in width to correspond substantially to thewidth of the side walls of the flush tank, attaching means connectedwith the side panels and engageable with the flush Vtank for holding thejacket in place on the tank, a bottom panel joined to the lower edges ofthe front and side panels and of a size and shape to cover the majorportion of the exposed bottom wall of the tank, said 4bottom panelhaving an aperture ltherein spaced from the rear free edge of the panelto accommodate a relatively small diameter discharge pipe projectingfrom the bottom of a wall mounted type tank, the portion of the :bottompanel extending rearwardly from the aperture to the rear free edge beingdisconnected so as to form a mouth for the aperture opening to the rearfree edge of the panel, and cooperating fastening means on the bottompanel adjacent the disconnected edges of the mouth of the aperture,connectable to substantially close the mouth of the aperture around thedischarge pipe to 4aid in holding the jacket on the tank, said bottompanel having a line of stitching defining an area surrounding saidaperture adapted to be cut out of the panel to form an enlarged openingspaced from the rear free edge of the 1bottom panel adapted toaccommodate a relatively large discharge pipe projecting from the bottomof a free standing type tank, at least one set `of cooperatingconnectable fastening means lon said bottom panel and located outsidesaid surrounding area.

2. As an article of manufacture for use with a toilet .ush tank ofeither the wall mounted type or 4the free standing type having exposedfront, side and bottom walls, a jacket comprising a rectangular frontpanel lof porous, water absorbent fabric of a width to reach across thefront of a flush tank and of a height to extend from the bottom of thetank substantially to the top of the tank, an aperture in the frontpanel adjacent one upper corner for accommodating a handle on Athe tankfor diushing the toilet, similar rectangular side panels of porous waterabsorbent fabric joined to the Iopposite side edges of said front paneland having a height equal `thereto but being narrower in width tocorrespond substanti-ally to the width of side walls of the iiush tank,attaching means connected with the side panels and engageable with theflush tank for holding lthe jacket in place on a ush tank, a bottompanel of porous water absorbent fabric joined to the lower edges of thefront and side panel-s and of a size and shape to cover the majorportion of the exposed bottom Wall of the tank, said bottom panel havinga rst aperture therein adjacent one end opening to the rear free edge ofthe panel for accommodating an inlet pipe projecting from the bottom ofa tlush tank, cooperating fastening means on the bottom panel atopposite sides of the aperture and near the rear free edge of the panelconnectable to substantially close the mouth of the aperture around theinlet pipe to aid in holding the jacket in place on the tank, saidbottom panel having a second aperture therein centrally locatedlengthwise of the panel and spaced from the rear free edge of the panelto accommodate a relatively small diameter discharge pipe projectingfrom the bottom of a wall mounted type tank, the portion of the bottompanel extending rearwardly from the second aperture to the rear freeedge being disconnected so as to form a mouth for the aperture openingto the rear free edge of the panel, and cooperating fastening means onthe bottom panel adjacent the disconnected edges of the mouth of thesecond aperture, connectable to substantially close the mouth of theaperture around the discharge pipe to aid in holding the jacket on thetank, said bottom panel having a line of stitching defining an `areasurrounding said second aperture adapted to be cut out of the panel toform an enlarged opening spaced from the rear free edge of the paneladapted to accommodate a relatively large discharge pipe projecting fromthe bottom of a free standing type tank, said stitching functioning,after said surrounding area is cut out, to prevent unraveling of thefabric adjacent the aperture, at least one set of said last mentionedcooperating con nectable fastening mean-s being located in said bottompanel within said surrounding area and at least one set being locatedoutside said surrounding area.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,652,874 Armstrong Sept. 22, 1953 2,652,875 -Puste Sept. 22, 19532,705,519 Kaiser .k...-. Apr. 5, 19.55

